"For we walk by faith, not by sight."
2 Corinthians 5:7
When things are going well for us, it's not too hard to walk by faith. When things are going against us, our faith is tested. We are tempted to doubt. Faith cannot be based upon what we see, but what God says. Faith comes through the promises of the word of God (Romans 10:17; 2 Cor. 1:20). Corrie ten Boom told a good illustration of faith. She wrote, "Picture a piece of embroidery placed between you and God, with the right side up toward God. Man sees the loose, frayed ends, but God sees the pattern." If we go only by what the eyes see, it looks like confusion. Faith believes that God is working according to His pattern.
Faith sees what is invisible to the eyes of man. It was by faith that Moses was able, "seeing Him who is invisible" (Hebrews 11:27). We cannot see God with our eyes, because God is Spirit (John 4:24). Walking by sight, trusting only what the eyes can see, will never come to God to receive His many promises. Faith sees God at work always in all things (Romans 8:28).
The pilot of an airplane cannot always go by what he sees through the windshield. As he travels through clouds or the darkness of night, he must depend upon the instruments on the control panel before him. So it is with the child of God, if we only go by what the eyes can see in our lives, we are not walking by faith. We must learn to live by what God has said in His word. God's word will guide us through the dark night of the soul, as well as through the storms of life. Walk by faith, not by sight.
Prayer: Father, teach us to trust the sure promises of the Bible. Help us to build our faith on the truth of the word, through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.
